The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) Part 2
INDIA GALLERY The India Gallery aims to highlight the decorative Islamic arts of India, spanning from the 16th to 19th century. The pieces featured in this gallery include a collection of richly decorated Indian arms and armour, jewellery, metalwork, woodwork, Qur"anic manuscripts and folios of miniature paintings which reflects the enormous wealth of the Mughal Empire. The skill of the craftsmen in gem setting, enameling, engraving, inlaid work, filigree, and jewel and stone carving produces an amalgam of richly decorative pieces that reached a peak of excellence under the Mughal dynasty.
View of the India Gallery
Wooden powder flask;India; 18th century AD
Miniature painting of Shah Jahan
India; 17th century AD
Inlaid marble finial
Northern India. c. 1700AD
CHINA GALLERY
The China Gallery of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia displays more than 60 artefacts, ranging from ceramics, metalware, Qur"ans and calligraphic scrolls. Dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the Chinese Muslims, the China Gallery exhibits a varied range of Chinese Islamic artefacts, drawing parallels, differences and influences of style in Chinese Islamic arts to the rest of the Muslim world. To supplement its permanent exhibits, the museum aims to continually provide the public more in-depth perspectives. On the 28th July 2001, IAMM organised a special exhibition in collaboration with the Cultural Palace of Nationalities Museum, Beijing and the Northwest Minorities University, Lanzhou entitled "Six Centuries of Islamic Art in China".
View of China Gallery
1 judz of a Qing dynasty Qur"an
China; 17th century AD
China. 19th century AD
This scroll is written in monumental stylized Chinese Islamic script on
brown paper on an uneven surface. The text reads that Allah is the
only god and there is no other god than Allah.
Cast bronze incense burner
China. 15th century AD
MALAY GALLERY The Malay World gallery features artefacts which reflect the cultural heritage and Islamic faith of the Malay community found in South East Asian countries such as; Malaysia, Southern Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. There are more than 200 artefacts displayed in the gallery and these include; illuminated Qur"ans, religious and secular manuscripts, metalwork, woodwork, arms and armour, textiles, costumes, jewellery and coins, which date from the 1700s to the 1900s. Malay World artefacts are highly influenced by the earlier Islamic dynasties and empires such as; the Abbasid dynasty fromMiddle East, the Mughal Empire from India and the Ming dynasty from China. Through prolific maritime trade, which began in the 15th century, the Malay world was exposed to the cultural influences of these great civilizations, which enhanced the development of indigenous art and craft in the region.
Overall view Malay World Gallery
Sultan Zainul Abidin Qur"an
Terengganu, Malaysia
18th century AD
Inscribed limar cloth
Terengganu, Malaysia. 19th century AD
Illuminated Quran - by Ali Dibr "Abd al-Karim al Khanja
Mindanao, Philippines. 1882 AD